Gathering mechanism for harvesters



Oct. 3, 1944.

Original Filed July 1, 1935 w. R. DRAY GATHERING MECHANISM FORHARVESTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 3, 1944. w. R. DRAY GATHERING MECHANISMFOR HARVESTERS Original Filed July 1, 19:55

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mai may Patented Oct. 3, 1944 GATHERING MECHANISM FORHARVESTERS Walter R. Dray,

Kendall Township, Kendall County, Ill., assignor to Allis-ChalmersManufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of DelawareOriginal application July 1, 1935, Serial No. 29,216. Divided and thisapplication June 29, 1940, Serial No. 343,123

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to improvements in harvesting machinesand it has special utility in connection with that type of such machinesas are known as harvester-threshers or combines which are capable ofgathering the crop and threshing the same during travel of the machinethrough the field; and the invention is more particularly concerned withimprovements in the mechanism, comprising a gathering reel and itsdrive, for gathering the crop from the field and conveying it to asuitable point for further processing, and especially in that portion ofsuch mechanism concerned with the gathering reel and the drive therefor.

The present application is a division of applicants copendingapplication, Serial No. 29,216, filed July .1, 1935, which has maturedinto Patent No. 2,262,453, granted November 11, 1941.

The more modern and lighter weight commercial types ofvharvester-threshers or combines are designed to operate at relativelyhigh speed of travel through the field, a well known type of such amachine including a header platform carrying a cutting sickle at itsforward or lower end, the platform being adjustable up and down, throughpivotal mounting thereof adjacent its rear end to vary the position ofthe sickle with respect to the ground, and the platform supporting anadjustable rotatable gathering reel positioned over the cutting sickle.In such light weight, and hence relatively inexpensive,harvester-threshers, it is especially desirable to provide a simple andeflicient form of driving mechanism for the gathering reel, such drivingmechanism being effective to provide the desired driving of the reelirrespective of its position of adjustment.

The present invention contemplates and has for an object thereof theprovision, in connection with a harvester of the above referred togeneral .character, an improved design and construction of operating ordriving mechanism for the gathering reel, and the disposition of suchdriving mechanism with respect to the header platform tc facilitatedesired and efiicient operation of the reel in its various positions ofadjustment.

7 It is a further object of this invention to provide an improveddesign, construction and disposition of operating mechanism for thegathering reel of a harvester of the above general character andinvolving the use of a single flexible drive element of the belt typefrom a shaft substantially coaxial with the axis of pivotal mounting ofthe header platform to the shaft of the adjustable reel.

7 These and other objects and advantages are attained by the presentinvention, various novel features of which will be apparent from thedescription and accompanying drawings, disclosing an embodiment offeatures of the invention, and will be more particularly pointed out inthe claims In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental vertical sectional elevation of aharvester-thresher, such as is disclosed in the above mentioned parentapplication, the plane of section being that of the line II of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of the forward end of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1, with parts of the reel structure omitted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View in side elevation of a detail of theapparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan view, with portions omitted, of theharvester-thresher of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, the harvesterthresher is mounted on asupporting frame carried by the axle of a pair of traction wheels II,the latter being preferably disposed so that the weight of the apparatusis balanced about the axis of the wheels. The supporting frame includesa forwardly projecting draft frame portion I2 which serves as a drawbarsupport through which tractive effort of a sounce of traction, such as apower tractor, may be supplied, andalso as a support for a power shaftthrough which power is supplied from a tractor for op erating severalmechanisms of the apparatus. A housing [3 for the threshing mechanism iscarried by the supporting frame, and an auxiliary header frame I4 iscarried on the forward end, ,of the thresher housing. A grain storagebin I6 is carried by the supporting frame at the stubbleward side of thethresher housing; and a transversely extending housing portion I3enclosing separating mechanism is carried by the frame in position toreceive material discharged from the threshing mechanism.

The header frame I 4 is of troughlike form open at its forward and rearends and has side walls I! which may be flanged at their upper edgesthroughout the major portion of their length, the flange I8 on the outerside wall being of tapering curvature and acting-as a guide to depositcut grain on the header frame. The side walls 11 of the header frame fitclosely within side walls I9 of the housing I3 for the threshingmechanism at the open forward side thereof, and the header frame ismounted on the housing I3 through a pivotal connection between the sidewalls of the header frame and the side walls of the housing I 3, so thatthe lower forward edge of the header frame may be swung upward anddownward to a desired position of adjustment relative to the ground.

The header frame may be actuated to desired position of adjustmentrelative to the ground by means of a rod 2|, preferably pivotallyattached at its lower end to a laterally extending flange or plate 23integral with or secured to the inner side wall ll of the header frame,and this rod is attached at its upper end to an arm 24 carried by a rod25 pivotally mounted on the drawbar frame I2. Attached to the rod I2 isan actuating arm 26 which is attached to an actuating rod 21, the latterreaching to a suitable lever mechanism 28 of conventional form carriedat the forward end of the drawbar frame, a balancing spring 29, shown asattached to a reverse extension of the actuating arm 26 and to the frameI2, preferably being provided to counterbalance the header frame.

At the forward end of the header frame I4 adjacent the bottom platethereof is mounted a sickle device 30 of conventional design, as in theform of relatively movable cooperative operating cutting knives, and anactuating rod 3| for said sickle device is pivotally attached to anactuating plate 32 pivotally mounted on the laterally extending plate 23carried by the inner side wall of the header frame.

A shield or guard 34 of generally rounded and forwardly tapering shapeand open at its rear side is attached to the lower end of the inner sidewall I! of the header frame and the plate 23, and serves to protectoperating mechanism,

such as the header frame actuating rod 2| and sickle actuating plate 32,at the rear of the guard, and also serves to guide grain toward thesickle and header frame. The outer side wall of the header frame isextended, by an integral portion or separately secured element, inadvance of the inner side wall of this frame, the upper edges,particularly the upper edge of this extended side wall being providedwith a curved and forwardly tapering flange, as indicated at 35, thestructure forming a relatively smooth surface splitter which enters thestanding grain and serves to lift and gather fallen grain and move thesame toward the sickle. The guard 34 and the splitter 35 may besupplemented by curved upwardly rising guard rings 36 secured to theguard and splitter.

Mounted within the header frame adjacent the lower edges of the sidewalls thereof is a traveling conveyer 38 of the draper belt type, and ittravels over a driving roller 39 having shaft journals rotatably mountedin bearings on the side walls H of the header frame near the upper endthereof and on the adjacent portions of the side walls I9 of the housingI3, the driving shaft of this ulpper roller preferably being coincidentwith the axis on which the header frame has its pivotal movement on theside Walls of the housing I3. This driving shaft, indicated at 39a,projects through the outer side wall I9 of the housing I3.

The lower or foot roller 40 about which the draper 38 travels, has shaftextensions rotatable in bearings 42 on the side walls I I of the headerframe.

A rotatable gathering reel is mounted on the header frame in operativeposition relative to the sickle and the traveling draper. This reelincludes a rotatable shaft 56 and a pair of spaced sets of reel arms,each set including four arms 51 disposed ninety degrees apart andsuitably attached to the shaft 56 for rotation therewith. A paddle orbat 58 is pivotally connected or hinged to the two corresponding arms 51of the two sets, at their outer ends and along the forward edges of thearms, as indicated at 59. This hinged arrangement permits the paddles orbats to swing forwardly with respect to the reel arms in the directionof rotation of the reel as the arms pass forwardly beyond theirulppermost position, and to swing rearwardly with respect to the arms asthe latter pass beyond their lowermost position, the paddles beingrestrained in their swinging movement forwardly with respect to the reelarms by flexible inextensible straps 6| attached to the paddles and thesupporting arms. The paddles are restrained in their rearward swingingmovement by reason of their being pivoted at the forward edge of thereel arms and their cooperation with the beveled ends, indicated at 62,of the arms. This restraining means permits each paddle to swing, due toits own weight, to an angle of approximately thirty degrees forwardlyand rearwardly of the plane of the supporting pair of arms for suchpaddle.

The reel shaft is rotatably supported on an extended hearing or aplurality of spaced bearings in an elongated tubular supporting housing63. This supporting housing is mounted so as to be capable of up anddown and forward and rearward movement, so as to permit any desiredpositioning of the reel with respect to the sickle. As indicated, thebearing housing 63 is mounted in two spaced strap like brackets 64,65carried by a supporting frame which includes a generally verticallyextending member 61. Two U-shaped brackets 68 have their cross barssecured to the member 61, and their arms extending rearwardly andembracing the latter member and a generally vertical rod 69 pivotallysecured at its lower end to the adjacent side wall I! of the headerframe or the laterally, extending plate 23 thereon; The U-shapedbrackets 68 and the reel support carried thereby are adjustable up anddown on the rod 69, and these brackets have cross bolts, indicated atI0, preferably bne at each side of the rod 69; and these bolts may betightened to cause the side arms of the brackets to frictionally gripthe rod 69 and hold the brackets and the reel structure carried therebyin any desired position of adjustment on the rod 69, to thereby positionthe reel carried thereby at any desired height above the sickle.

An actuating rod II is secured by one of the clamping bolts I0 betweenthe rear end portions of the upper bracket 68 and extends rearwardly toa U-shaped supporting bracket 12 in which this rod II may be clamped inany desired position of longitudinal adjustment. With the clampingbracket I2 in released condition, the rod II may be moved from theposition of Figs. 2. and 3, and the support 63 and the reel carriedthereby may be shifted to any desired position of adjustment. a

It will be apparent that through the adjustable supporting arrangementdescribed, the reel may be shifted up and down and forward and rearwardto and maintained in any desired position of adjustment relative to thesickle.

Extending between each pair of supporting reel arms supporting a paddle58 is arranged an adjustable or removable barrier, in the form of aflexible curtain 13 of canvas or the like. The radially outer end ofthis curtain is attached to the paddle 58 and the inner end ispreferably secured to a rod 13a on which this end of curtain may berolled to a desired extent. Removable clamps 14 having one arm bracedagainst the reel arm and the other arm gripping the rod 13a and theportion of the curtain rolled thereon, in conjunction with the clampingbolts 14a passing through the reel arms, serve to hold the inner end ofthe curtain in fully extended or substantially fully or partiallywithdrawn condition, according to the predetermined position on the reelarms at which the clamps 14 are secured, with the bolts 14a disposed inselected ones of a plurality of suitably spaced bolt holes. Duringoperation on a windy day, the curtains may be rolled back to a desiredextent and clamped in partially or substantially fully withdrawncondition, as shown in connection with the horizontally extending reelarms of Fig. l, to overcome adverse effects of the wind on the reel.

An endless feeding conveyer 15, in the form of a draper belt preferablyprovided with transverse bars or slats on the working surface thereof,is driven by a driving roller 16 and travels over a second roller 18disposed above and somewhat beyond the upper roller 39 of the conveyingdraper 38. Shaft extensions of the rollers 16 and 18 are mounted inbearings in the side walls IQ of the housing 13, the shaft 19 of thedriving roller 1'6 passing to the outer side of the outer side wall l9of the housing [3. The rollers 16 and 18 are so positioned and thefeeding draper I is so driven that the lower course of the latter drapertravels, like the upper course of the conveying dralper 38, toward thethreshing mechanism in the housing l3.

The threshing cylinder, indicated at Bl, comprises a rotatably shaft 82on which are mounted through the intermediary of spaced annular disks, acircumferential series of spaced thresher bars 85 extendinglongitudinally of the cylinder.

The stationary concave element with which the thresher bars cooperate inthe threshing operation includes a generally circular and preferablyimperforate housing portion 81 beneath the threshing cylinder, andhaving one or more fixed threshing bars 91 on its inner surface, and athroat or ledge plate assembly at the forward edge of this housingportion, this assembly comprising a bent plate 89 having a portionmounted, preferably in an adjustable manner, on the bottom wall of theheader frame and having its rear edge provided with a ledger plate 9|,preferably adjustable, extending over the forward edge .of the housingportion 81 and toward the threshing cylinder into close proximity to thepath of the thresher bars 85.

The upper portion of the housing for the threshing cylinder follows andis relatively clos- 1y spaced from the path of the threshing bars 85 toa point adjacent the end of the upper feeding draper 15, the forward endof the housing being easily curved, as indicated at I 00, and serving toguide grain downwardly toward the ledger plate 9| and the threshing barsmoving past the same.

Power for operating the various mechanisms of the apparatus is derivedfrom a main power shaft made up of longitudinally adjustable sections206, 261. The forward section 286 is provided with a spherical journalportion 288 rotatably supported in a spherical bearing 289 which ispivotally mounted on the forward end of the drawbar frame l2 to move ina plane extending in the general direction of the axis of the shaftsection 206. The shaft section 206 is arranged for connection, through auniversal joint 2IU, to a power takeoff shaft on a tractor, and it ispreferably arranged to be driven at speeds independent of the speed oftravel of the tractor and harvester thresher.

The connection between the shaft sections 286 and 201 is preferably inthe form of a combined slip clutch and telescopic connection, indicatedat H6, 2", in detachable sections. The shaft section 20'! is suitablyconnected, preferably through a universal joint and a beveled gearconnection 222, to drive a transverse shaft 223 suitably mounted on thesulpporting frame.

The shaft 223 is provided with a V-gnoove sheave 226, the latter beingconnected with a V-groove sheave 221 on the operating shaft 82 of thethreshing cylinder, through a V-belt 228, preferably with a suitableidler sheave cooperating with the belt to secure the desired tensionthereof. A second V-groove sheave 229 is mounted on the shaft 223 and isconnected through a V-belt 23! to a V-pulley 232 on the operating shaft79 of the upper roller 16 of the feeding conveyer 75, and to a V-pulley234 mounted on the inner side wall of the header frame, preferablythrough a suitable idler pulley. The sheave 234 drives a p-itman 235,through an eccentric on the sheave, the pitman actuating the sickledevice through its connection with the actuating plate 32 and theoperating rod 3| of the sickle. The shaft 39a of the upper roller 39 ofthe feed draper 38 is preferably driven through a flexible belt drivefrom a sheave on the shaft I9, to impart the desired travel to such feeddraper. A flexible belt drive 258 from an extension on the stubblewardtraction wheel H to a pulley or sprocket wheel on a shaft 251, suitablymounted on the supporting frame, or the grain bin structure thereon,serves to drive this shaft 251 at a speed corresponding to the speed oftravel of the apparatus over the ground. This shaft 257 is connected,through a sheave 259 on such shaft and a V-belt 260, to drive a V-groovesheave 26I on the inner end of the reel shaft 56. Through positioning ofthe shaft 251 with its axis in, or in close proximity to, alinement withthe axis of the shaft 390. (as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4) about whichthe header frame I4 and parts carried thereby have their pivotal up anddown movement, with the result that the distance between the shaft 251and the reel shaft 56 is not appreciably affected by such adjustment ofthe header frame, and through the extended length and flexibility ofthis V-belt drive between the shaft 251 and the reel shaft, suitabledriving cooperation of the belt 260 with the pulley 26l on the reelshaft is maintained throughout the various positions of adjustment ofthe reel shaft. And this'ground or traction wheel drive of the reel,independently of the sickle, threshing, conveying, and separatingmechanisms, permits travel of the apparatus through a field at anydesired speed over a wide range, with assurance that the reel is alwaysoperating at a proportionate and proper speed, while permitting aconstant speed, or any desired speeds of operation of the sickle,threshing, conveying and separating mechanisms.

It should be understood that features and operating effects of theinvention disclosed hereinabove have definite commercial applicationsand utility other than in the particular apparatus described and theinvention is to be considered as embrasive of these various applicationsand utilities. And it is not desired that the invention be limited tothe exact details of construction shown and described herein for obviousmodifications may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a harvester-thresher, a frame mounted on traction wheels,threshing mechanism and harvesting mechanism carried by said frame, saidharvesting mechanism comprising a support, and a harvesting sickle and arotatable gathering reel mounted on said support in operative positionwith respect to said sickle and adjustable up and down and fore and aftwith respect to said sickle, said support for said harvesting mechanismbeing pivotally mounted along a transversely extending axis on a partfixedly associated with said frame, a driving connection for the shaftof said gathering reel, said driving connection comprising atransversely extending shaft mounted on said frame with its axisdisplaced from and above the axes of said traction wheels andapproximately coinciding with the pivotal axis of said support, and asingle flexible driving belt cooperative with a driving pulley on saidtransverse shaft and a pulley on said reel shaft for driving thev lattershaft from said transverse shaft.

2. In a harvester-thresher, a supporting frame mounted on laterallyspaced traction wheels, threshing mechanism mounted on said frame, aheader platform pivotally mounted for up and down movement on said frameon a transverse axis located forwardly of said threshing mechanism andabove the axes of said traction wheels, said header platform having acutting sickle at its forward end and a conveyer disposed rearwardly ofsaid sickle for conveying harvested material to the entrance to saidthreshing mechanism, and a rotatable gathering reel whose shaft isadjustably mounted on said header platform over said cutting sickle andmovable up and down and fore and aft with respect thereto, and a powerdrive for said reel shaft comprising a transverse shaft mounted in fixedposition on said supporting frame and substantially coaxial with thepivotal mounting axis of said header platform, a V-groove driving sheaveon said transverse shaft, a V-groove driven sheave on said reel shaft,and a flexible V-belt cooperative with said sheaves and operative todrive said reel shaft in any of the positions of adjustment of saidheader platform relative to said supporting frame and of said reelrelative to said cutting sickle.

3. In a harvester-thresher, a frame mounted on traction wheels, athreshing mechanism mounted on said frame, a harvesting mechanismcomprising a header platform pivotally mounted for up and down movementon said frame on a transversely extending axis located forwardly of saidthreshing mechanism and above the axes of said wheels, said headerplatform having a cutting sickle at its forward end and a conveyingmechanism disposed rearwardly of said cutting sickle for conveyingharvested material from said sickle to the entrance to said threshingmechanism, and a rotatable gathering reel whose shaft is adjustablymounted on said pivotally mounted header platform over said sickle, saidreel haft being adjustable up and down and fore and aft with respect tosaid sickle, a drive shaft carried by said frame, lpower transmittingmeans for effecting operation of said threshing mechanism, saidconveying mechanism and said sickle from said drive shaft, and a powertransmitting connection for driving said reel, said power transmittingconnection comprising a pulley on a transversely extending shaft mountedon a part'fixedly associated with said frame with the axis of said shaftdisplaced from and above the axes of said traction wheels andapproximately coinciding with the pivotal mounting axis of said pivotedheader platform, and a driving connection from said latter shaft to saidreel shaft in the form of a single flexible belt drive from a pulley onsaid transverse shaft directly to a pulley on the shaft of said reel.

4. In a harvester-thresher, a frame mounted on traction wheels,threshing mechanism mounted in an enclosing housing carried by saidframe, harvesting mechanism comprising a header platform pivotallymounted on a transversely extending axis above the axes of said tractionwheels on a forward portion of said enclosing housing for up and downmovement thereon, a cutting sickle at the forward end of said headerplatform, a rotatable gathering reel in operative position with respectto said sickle, and a conveying mechanism disposed rearwardly of saidsickle for conveying cut material to said threshing mechanism, saidsickle, reel and conveying mechanism being carried by said pivotedheader platform, and the shaft of said reel being adjustable on saidheader platform up and down and fore and aft with respect to saidsickle, power transmitting means carried by said frame for operatingsaid threshing and conveying mechanisms and said sickle, and a drivingconnection to said reel shaft for effecting desired operation of saidreel independently of the position of adjustment of said header platformor said reel shaft as to up and down adjustment thereof, said drivingconnection comprising a transversely extending shaft mounted on saidframe with its axis displaced from and above the axes of said tractionwheels and approximately coinciding with the pivotal mounting axis ofsaid header platform, and a single flexible V-belt connection fro-m aV-groove sheave on said transverse shaft directly to a V-groove sheaveon said reel shaft.

WALTER R. DRAY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,559,Lt09. October 19th,

WALTER R. DRAY.

It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the printed specificationPage L first and that the requiring correcti on as follows:

"pivotal" insert mounting;

of the above numbered patent column, line 51, claim 1, after saidLetters Patent should be read with 'this correction therein that thecase in the Patent Office same may conform to the record of the Signedand sealed this 19th day oi December,

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

